Dougherty nicks advantage over rivals

Nick Dougherty has turned to three-time champion Nick Faldo for an expert opinion in the countdown to his Masters debut at Augusta National this week.

The 25-year-old from Liverpool – whose seventh-place finish in the US Open last June earned him a start in the American major every golfer dreams of playing in - is trying to leave no stone unturned in his bid to make an instant impact at the tournament.

Dougherty, not wanting to be overawed by Augusta in tournament week, spent four days there following the CA world championship in Miami and then contacted Faldo to arrange a talk.

“I wanted to pick his brain,” he said. “He’s been saying to us since becoming Ryder Cup captain that if we wanted help feel free.

“I’m not shy of doing that. I phoned him and he said he was more than happy to have a chat.

“It’s self-evident that Nick and the Masters almost go hand in hand – when you think of Augusta you think of him.

“I can remember as clear as day, even though I was not quite seven, his first win after Scott Hoch missed that little putt. Then him beating Raymond Floyd the following year and then obviously the Greg Norman one too.

“If there’s one thing which comes from our chat that could save me half a shot it will have been worth it, but you never know, it could make a huge difference - and it certainly can’t do any harm.

“Even if it’s something I already knew it’s a good thing to hear it from him. It’ll reassure me that I’ve got it right in my head about how to play that course.”

The pair go back a long way. It is 11 years ago now that Dougherty won the first of three successive titles in the Faldo Junior Series and the former world number one took him under his wing.

Known as ’Little Nick’ when he turned professional because of their connection, Dougherty was a member of Faldo’s winning Seve Trophy team in Ireland last September and naturally would love to win his first Ryder Cup cap under him later this year.

His victory in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews early in the qualifying race has made that a real possibility, but the battle for places has now reached its crucial point with the first of the four majors.

Dougherty, with only one top-10 finish so far this year, has also started seeing famed American sports psychologist Bob Rotella in a bid to bring his game to a peak when it matters most.

Rotella’s successes include Open champion Padraig Harrington, and Dougherty, who has just slipped outside the world’s top 50, commented: “We talked about my general philosophy on what golf is about and now I feel a lot better – it was great.

“When I think about the two times I’ve won they’re probably the most relaxed I’ve ever been.

“Both times I got to the venues late rather than super, super early and the point of going to Augusta two weeks before the event was because that way it won’t be work, work, work in tournament week.

“I’ve done the hard graft and now I can just turn up and get used to the greens.

“The first day was a soak-it-all-up walk round, the second day I charted all the greens – that took ages – then I played 18 holes to get a feel for it and then I went round the back nine again.”

Dougherty used a local caddie to learn all he could off him and had coach David Leadbetter with him part of the time.

“I could have pursued an opportunity to play there with a member before, but I’ve always said I only wanted to play Augusta National when it was for The Masters,” he said.

“Maybe I’d have changed my mind if I was 50 years old and hadn’t been, but that’s not necessary now. It’s pretty cool to think I’m playing in the tournament.”

Since Gene Sarazen won the second Masters in 1935, only Fuzzy Zoeller has won the title on his first appearance, but Luke Donald was third on his debut in 2005, Paul Casey sixth the year before and Darren Clarke eighth in 1998.

“It’s difficult to say what will be a good week,” stated Dougherty. “I’d love to think I can go out and contend – I go to every tournament trying to win - but that’s an extremely high expectation.

“I’m not going to expect anything. I just want to enjoy what is going to be a special experience and commit on every shot.

“Apparently it does not get too much tougher than Oakmont (last year’s US Open venue), so that’s a good thing for me to know.”

He led there after an opening 68 and after slipping into the pack over the next two days finished with a battling 71 and earned his Masters exemption with nothing to spare.

“The key will be the mental aspect. I’ve beaten myself up over mistakes before, but it is a game of mistakes,” Dougherty insisted.

“I know my game is good enough and it’s just allowing myself to play the golf I am capable of.

“My game has been a bit quiet lately. I’ve just not got any momentum. After winning my expectation level changed a bit and that never works with me.”

Family and friends will be cheering him on from outside the ropes and, having played three US Opens and three US PGAs already, he hopes, of course, that this is just the first of many Masters.